We have now lived through five months of closings,
cancellations, substitutions, and alterations. At this point, we have adapted
to our new routines as a church and adjusted our habits as individuals to fit
our new regimens. But there will
certainly be a day when things return to, if not exactly our old ways, a new
normal that allows us to perform our work without impairment. We should be ready for that time and the
unique challenges and opportunities it will present. We must preserve the good practices we have
been able to maintain unchanged, end the crisis-driven changes that don't help
us to advance God's will, and cement in any beneficial new processes that we
have adopted--that we may “preach the word; be ready in season and out of
season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2
Timothy 4:2-3
Some of the church's adjustments were needed to cope with
the changed environment and though beneficial at the time it is important that
we end them. Scheduling multiple sermons
each week, keeping a “social distance” from each other, and participating
exclusively in remote events have a negative effect on the church. We must
observe when these practices are shown to be unnecessary scientifically, past
the point where they are needed and helpful. At that point, we can adjust to
either “normal” or an improved future.
However, we must also be ready to readjust to appropriate practices
until it is safe and to maintain protections for people who are especially
at-risk.
We need to return to a single Divine Service to reinforce
the unity of our church, ensuring that we have the best opportunity to see each
of our church brothers and sisters every Sunday. Separate services can lead to
division by accretive unfamiliarity between and natural affinity within each
service.
Until we approach standing room only, we should plan, labor,
serve, and worship as one church. There may come a day when we grow to a point
that requires a second service (I welcome that problem), but even then the
better solution would be to build a bigger church.
Paul and Peter asked us to greet each other with a holy
kiss, not an emoji! Much of our life changes have involved a reduction in
proximity and contact, and the lack of hugs and handshakes has certainly harmed
our mental health. We must unlearn some of the social distancing habits that
have crept into our daily living. This of course does not apply for those who's
health is especially at risk and still requires protection and there is nothing
wrong with continuing with frequent hand sanitization. But the rest of us need
the benefits of human contact that we have been missing over the last few
months and continuing to keep a pew's length from one another will make it
difficult to connect with each other and those we meet.
We went over four months without an in-person service,
meeting, or event, and most of us have been using Zoom, GoToMeeting, FaceTime,
Duo and who knows what else in our work and family lives, too. We can be
thankful to Pastor, Marcia, the Reisors, Beth, and Gail for making the Divine
Services available in audio and video so we could at least share that, but
there is a danger of growing too accustomed to only remotely connecting with
the church. It's good in a pinch and when there is no alternative, but the
communion is clearly incomplete without our fellow saints.
It is important to recognize that some changes have been
beneficial and should be preserved.
Pastor Colageo and Gail were already providing audio of the sermons
online, so our church did not miss a beat, and soon the Reisors and Beth added
video shared on YouTube and Facebook. It
is worth considering if we should maintain video sharing of our Church
life—does that provide needed access to our members? Is it a viable way for us
to evangelize? There may not be a lot of
internal pressure for a digital presence now, but the world has adopted
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to communicate so we should not cede
that field.
Handwashing, sneeze covering, surface sanitizing, and
isolating the ill and vulnerable may have been a habit from before the
pandemic, but we have taken it to another level. There is certainly nothing wrong with
continuing an increased focus on preventing the spread of all of the illnesses
that have bothered us before and will continue to. Even a cold can keep us out of church.
Reviewing how the pandemic began and how it pressured and
controlled our modes of worship is also worthwhile. I am sure that court cases will continue
concerning the limits of its power and our church should press for and support
the LCMS to argue for our First Amendment rights. We should also take time for a risk
assessment to identify any other new and unexpected threat. It is clear that those who oppose or are
ambivalent toward religion will take advantage of crises so we must be prepared
to maintain our rights at the same time we address whatever the crisis is.
Immanuel Lutheran Church has done a great job of acting and
reacting to the coronavirus. It is clear
that our members and leaders have a strength and resilience promised by God
(Isaiah 41:10). We will have more
changes and reactions ahead, and new challenges and opportunities, but we
already know how the story ends! Hallelujah!